And Gait Barrows, Hutton Roof and Farleton, Leighton Moss,Arnside Knott and everywhere else as well. Here is my blog of records, Articles, Sketches, Poems and photographs which I would love to share with you. In the main my blog refers to Nature subjects within this most beautiful North Lancs/Cumbria areas, but may from time to time also include out of the area stuff, including the most beautiful GOA (India). Life is for living and loving...

Tuesday, 9 June 2015

Lily Of The Valley going over whilst Bedstraws are just starting to come through!

Lily Of The Valley (Convallaria majalis) - (Click over photo to enlarge)

Tuesday 9th June 2015 - Dalton Crags, Hutton Roof at various points 0900hrs to 1200hrs
Yesterday afternoon I went up in Dalton Lower Crags to check out the large area of Lily Of The Valley and it was surprising just how a lot of the plants are already going over, but I did manage to catch some and photograph here.

Today I had really good views of one of the Cuckoos, seen at best only some 20 yards away. Also noticed from time to time he would swoop down to the floor and then back up to the nearby mid sized tree. I think he must have been going down for insects!

Lily Of the Valley

My mission today was like most days to check out certain areas up on Hutton Roof, but in the main I had wanted to check out areas for rarer ferns and also for the "Sanicle" plant and anything else.

The Garden Warblers were in fine fettle today, with some great song coming from a bird both down in the lower Crags and another up on the Common, which was not far from the Trig Point.

Two Chiffchaffs were noted and also a Redpoll was heard going over in the Lower Crags, I have no doubt whatsoever they are breeding in the Dalton Crags areas. The Tree Pipits were very subdued with just the odd bird calling and displaying. Odd Swallows going over whilst hawking for insects. Odd Skylark was heard from somewhere with its "thrupp" contact call.

Its very patchy sunshine at the moment, just occasionally it will come out from behind the cloud, and can at times be again rather cool. So checking out early fritillaries just did not happen, however I was lucky to see two Dinghy Skipper Butterflies, jostling one another for some 3 or 4 minutes down at the bottom of Dalton deforested. Over on the common I may have had a female Clouded Yellow without ever knowing for sure!, it was certainly a large "Whitish" butterfly which without doubt was on migration heading NW and I watched it speedily coming across the Heaths and quickly without effort climbing to negotiate the nearby trees in its path and onward it flew with haste!

The Bedstraws are now seen to be coming through with some actually in flowers. I checked specimens of both the Heath and the Limestone Bedstraw, and also went to the pavement which holds the very rare (for these parts) Northern Bedstraw. The Northern is well on its way but perhaps another two or three weeks from flowering. It just survives in a small shallow gryke of about 2 metres by 1/2 metre wide, but I can't find it spreading anywhere. This is the one spot only I have ever found it on Hutton Roof, and obviously makes it now the lowest breeding plants in Cumbria, since the demise of the Gait Barrow specimens. How do I tell whether its a Heath Bedstraw or a Limestone Bedstraw. Well for me the Limestone is far more straggley, but the only sure way to tell I believe is to see which way the marginal bristles are pointing eg: forward for Heath and backward for Limestone. So you need a glass to check it out to be sure!

Common Rock Rose

Lots of other interesting flora about which included: Common Milkwort (with lots of colour variation, but mainly the beautiful deep blue colour), also the rare Spring Sandwort, Brittle Bladder Ferns (so delicately beautiful at this time of year) and some Polypodies. Harts Fern and the local Rigid Buckler Fern prolific, occasionally found some Limestone Fern (that little beauty!), also some Lesser Meadow Rue, Thyme Leaved Speedwell, Germander Speedwell, Bugle, lots and lots of hawkweeds, but I am not the one to be brave enough to call them! also Fairy Flax, Yellow Pimpernel, The garlic smelling Ramsons, Bluebell (remnants), Cowslips (remnants), the Hairy Rockcress now gone over and losing its crown of flowers quickly now! Wild Strawberry are probably at their limits before the flower turns into the Strawberry, and this year without doubt I will collect some, because they are fabulous tasting and there are thousands to go round. There are still several Early Purple Orchids showing. Fairy Foxglove is certainly a feature at present in the Plain Quarry ledges!

Probably the best record for me today was finding a new small colony of Common Rock Rose (a firm favourite with the Northern Brown Argus which we have up here), of which just one plant was in flower (see photo) I found this in a really "off the track" place, so just goes to show you. I have recorded the gps ready to pass on to CWT and Tullie House. Also several new areas for "Sanicle", not that its that rare, but it is not that common either and still needs recording. Once you've weighed it up with this plant you can find similar habitats and its usually thereabouts close to well trodden paths in shady areas.

From reports yesterday 8th June 2015)"Crossbills are on the move"

Also of interest that Robert Ashworth had some nice records for Hutton Roof yesterday and of particular interest is that he had 3 Crossbills flying over, and also today I have had reports that a party flew over down in East Lancashire and also another report of a party flying over South Wales. So it does look very much like they are on the move!

Also Robert reported: 11 new spikes of Fly Orchid between Lancelot and Burton Fell. Also Brimstone, Green Hairstreak, Painted Lady (Dalton deforested), Small Heaths, Dingy Skipper. Also two Redpolls singing in Lancelot.

The beautiful Northern Bedstraw is well on its way(This is the only patch I have ever found on Hutton Roof - so I cherish it!)

Facebook and Twitter

Or better still I have now created a facebook page dedicated to run alongside the "I Love Arnside and Silverdale Blog". The page has been set up so that I can keep regular Notices of current blogs on the site which I will try and do by linking across. Occasionally I will also put on old blogs that may bear relation to current topics etc, also one of the main advantages is so that members can participate and comment and add information themselves should they so wish.

Vismig - Visible Migration (Birds)

For almost 30 years I have been interested in bird migration and have each year, especially in Autumn done vismig counts of moving birds through our Area. Up until recently I was counting down at Haslingden in Rossendale and more recently I have been enjoying counting at Hutton Roof (accessed from Clawthorpe) and closeby to my new home in Burton In Kendal.

If you are further interested in vismig and want to check out the "vismig" site then click here.

The authorative vismig record site is Trektellen which offers full reports from the UK and also all over Europe click here.

"Redwings to the left of me, Fieldfares to the right..." - If you would like to read the recent vismig article by Clive McKay and recently published in Birdguides, then click here. (local records mentioned)....

Followers

Autumnwatch 2014

Media

If you want to check out my time on BBC Autumnwatch Extra at Leighton Moss 2014 with Brett Westwood Please Click Here (Film is for approx 20 mins duration)

If you want to check out my time on BBC Autumnwatch Extra at Leighton Moss 2013 with Euan Mcilwraith Please Click Here (Film is for approx 20 mins duration)

If you want to check out my time on BBC News for the finding of the rare Holly Fern after 56 years, with Beccy Meehan Please Click Here (Film is for approx 1min 20seconds)

A lovely film showing both of the rare Holly Ferns which was made and given to me as a gift by my good friend Brian Gomm of Kendal. Please click here to check it out. (Film is for approx 6 mins duration)

If you want to check out the Great Grey Shrike film in Dalton Crags. Made by Fraser and guess what! I do seem to recognise the owd chap at the beginning. Please click here.

Fraser also made another short film about the Great Grey Shrike Part 2 in Dalton/Hutton Roof. Shows the Shrike actually impaling a lizard. Please click here

Scotch Argus

Arnside Knott 6th Aug 2009

Autumn Leaves

Dalton 5th Nov 2010

Smoked Sunbeams

Arnside Knott - 31st Aug 2010

Small Pearl Bordered Fritillary

Warton Crag 3rd July 2009

Marsh Helliborine

Carnforth 6th July 2011.

Items for Sale

Grasses, Ferns, Mosses & Lichens by Roger Phillips - A well used book but still a good reference, please contact me for further details. Good price for this much wanted book even in this condition £9.99 local delivery only.

Other Books for sale

From Fell and Field - A History of the Westmorland County Show 1799-1999 - Roger Bingham - Cicerone Paperback - Very Clean £8

The flowering plants and ferns of North Lancashire by L.A. & P.D. Livermore. Excellent reference and a very clean copy. For sale at £20 buyer collect or arrange delivery.

New Naturalist 1-10 Facsimile Collection - In NEW condition and a real bargain at £250 (Normal £500-750). Please note I do only have the one set available. Buyer Collect or maybe could deliver if local. Please contact me for further details.

Simpson's Flora Of Suffolk (Suffolk Naturalist Society) 537 page hardback, used but in good average condition. A bargain at £6.99.

Falconry & Hawking by Philip Glasier (third edition), A hardback of 352 pages in excellent condition. A bargain at £20.00

RHS Encyclopedia of Plants and Flowers. Very large hardback with 744 pages, used but in excellent condition. £35 on issue, my price £9.99. Buyer collect on may be able to do local delivery only

Wainwright - In The Valleys Of Lakeland. His last book. Used but clean hardback 216 pages. My price £4.99. buyer collect or maybe local delivery only

Great Feedback:

Shiela Newton (Newcastle)16th Aug 2011

I was researching Stock Ghyll Force, Ambleside – and I googled a link to your blog. I just had to write and say – WOW! Thanks for sharing all your wonderful knowledge – and your love of the countryside.

from Kate Schofield. 1st April 2012 I Just wanted to tell you how much I'm enjoying your blog! I stumbled on it while googling Hale Moss and now I'm hooked and keep returning! I buy from farms in Arnside, Silverdale & Yealand Conyers, but dont get to spend as much time in the area as I would like. I'm finding your blog NEARLY as good as being there. Kind Regards, Kate Schofield.

Geoff E (Lancaster) 13th April 2012 Hi Bryan, Just wanted to send my greetings and thanks for such wonderful springtime offerings on your blogs which I can't tell you how much they are appreciated. I check them almost daily and never fail to wonder at your dedication and knowledge of wildlife. Take care..... you are a wonder.... and keep up the good work. Best wishes Geoff.

Mo Richards - 25th March 2014 Hi Bryan,

Felt it was about time to say how enjoyable your blog is, its not fair to go on looking at it without sending an appreciation.

Thought you might like to know that the Flora of Cumbria Indoor meet last Saturday, Geoffrey Halliday said that your refind of the Holly Fern on Hutton Roof last year was the highlight of the Cumbria botanical year.